Cuticle protector and pusher



July 23, 1940. A. MeKlNNEY CUTICLE PROTECTOR AND PUSHER Filed Jan. 11, 1940 INVENTOR finsel M91601??? ATTORNEY;

WITNESSES Patented July 23, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,209,167 CUTICLE PROTECTOR AND PUSHER Application January 11,1940, Serial No. 313,349 Claims. (01. 132-13) This invention relates to an improved cuticle protector and pusher, and has for an object to provide a construction which is simple and which effectively covers and protects the cuticle when 5 coloring material or polish is being applied to the nails of a person.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved cuticle protector and pusher wherein fingers of different sizes may be readily accommodated and the device function properly.

An additional object,-more specifically, is to provide a cuticle protector and pusher and a tapered frame for supporting the protector and pusher, the parts being so constructed and arl5 ranged that as the protector and pusher is movedirom one end of the frame it will become automatically adjusted to fit the finger.

' In the accompanying drawing- Fig. 1 is a plan view of a cuticle protector and pusher embodying the invention, part of a finger being shown in connection therewith;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the protector in full functioning position;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view through Fig. 2 approximately on the line 3-3;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the protector and pusher shown in Fig. 1, the same being illustrated as fully open;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view through Fig. 4 approximately on the line 5-5;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing a slightly modified construction to that illustrated in Fig. 4.

Referring to the accompanying drawing by numerals, 1 indicates a frame having side guiding rods 2 and 3 merging at one end into an arcshaped end brace 4 and at the other end merging into an eye 5 and an arc-shaped brace 6 interlocking with the eye 8.

As illustrated particularly in Figs. 1 and 2, the frame I tapers from the arc-shaped brace 4 to the brace 6. On this frame is slidingly mounted the protector and pusher I. This protector and pusher is shown particularly in Fig. 4 and from this figure it will be observed that the protector and pusher is made of a single piece of material, as for instance, metal, but it is understood, of course, that it could be made of several parts connected together. However, the protector .and pusher is preferably made as shown in Fig. 4.

o The protector and pusher I is provided with an arc-shaped body 8 which fits partly around the finger when the device is inv use and which merges into tubular guides 9 and I0 slidably mounted on the guide bars or rods 2 and I. The

guide 9 merges into a n tched member ll while the guide In merges into a notched member l2. It will be observed that each notch 13 is provided with round ends l4 and I5 and a substantially straight central bottom 16. Each of the members I I and I2 is provided with what may be 5 called abutment arms I! and protecting arms 18. The arms 18 are ofiset, as indicated at 19, so that the arms I! will fit beneath the nails at each side as illustrated in Fig. 1. The protecting arms 18 will press against the cuticle at and near the 10 base of finger nail 20 when the device is in use. When a finger is first placed in the device, the nail is arranged as shown in Fig. 1 and then as the frame I. is pulled toward the hand the tapering position of the rods 2 and 3 will cause the 1 parts II and I2 togradually move toward each. other until a proper fit is secured, as shown in Fig. 2. This protects the cuticle around the nail but exposes the complete nail so that it may be polished, colored, or otherwise treated as desired without any chance of the coloring matter being deposited on the cuticle of the finger or on any other part of the finger. By providing the frame I tapering from one end to the other, a finger of the proportionate size shown in Fig. 2 may be 35 treated, or a larger or a smaller finger may be treated and the device will function in the same way. If a small finger is being treated the protector and pusher I will be near the brace 6, but if the finger is large the protector and pusher 1 so will be near the brace 4.

In Fig. 6 a slightly modified construction of protector and pusher is disclosed, wherein the body 8' is substantially rectangular and presents a bottom plate 20 and flat side plates 2| and 22. 35

It will be evident that various shapes of body 8 could be provided without departing from the spirit of the invention but the members H and 12 should be constructed substantially as shown in the accompanying drawing and the material of I which the protector and pusher is made" should beresilient so as to swing open and closed to fit various size fingers.

I claim:

1. A cuticle protector and pusher including a 5 frame and a protector and pusher formed with means slidably mounted on said frame and a pair of facing pushing and protecting members, each member .being formed with a notch having a substantially, straight bottom and apair of curved 0 ends; one of said ends being depressed to push cuticle while the other end fits under the nail of a person using the device.

2. A cuticle protector and pusher including a frame having a pair of converging side bars, and u a protector and pusher formed with a pair of encircling members slidably mounted on said side bars. and substantially encircling the bars respectively, said pusher having a pair 01' facing notchedmembersadapted to be moved toward a person, said tubular member having a pair oi. .facing notches at the point of division, whereby front and rear arms are presented, the rear arms being depressed radially inwardly whereby the rear arms are adapted to press cuticle adjacent the inner end of the finger nail while the outer arms fit beneath the outer end of the finger nail.

4. A device 01' the character described including a tapering frame having converging side rods and a protector and pusher slidably mounted on said frame, said protector and pusher including a body merging into a pair of tubular guide members, substantially surrounding said side rods of said frame and a pair of notched members formed with means for en aging a finger beneath the end of the finger nail and also engaging and cow ering the cuticle of the finger when the parts are in fully functioning position.

5. A device of the character described including a protector and pusher formed of resilient material having an arc-shaped body merging into a pair or substantially tubular guides, said: guides having arc-shaped notched members projecting therefrom, said notched members facing each other, one side of each of said notched members having an arc-shaped abutment arm and the other side having an oflset protector arm. said ofl'set being radially inwardly. Y

ANSEL MCKINNEY. 

